Typewriter desk



Oct. 14, 1930.

B. E. RICHARDSON TYPEWRITER DESK 4 beets-Sheet l ori inall iied May 18, 1925 im) 2 nfov Euguvb E .R'mh cwson y Oct. 14, 1930.

B. E. RICHARDSON TYPEWRITER DESK Original Fi led May 18/1925 4 SheetS-Sheet 2 Qct. 14, 1930. B. E. RICHARDSON TYPEWRITER DESK Original Filed May 18, 1925 4 Sheets-Sha e's 3 (Toma Oct. 14, 1930. B. E. RICHARDSON TYPEWRITER DESK Original Filed May 18, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inucnfor BagcwERichuvson gfu gjwm Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES Mimi" OFFICE TYPEWRITER DESK Application filed. May 18, 1925, Serial This invention relates to a typewriter desk and is particularly concerned with a desk adapted to hold a typewriter and enclose the same when the typewriter is not in use and with which the typewriter and its support may be projected forward and elevated to a higher level, when the same is to be used, the typewriter being extended in front of the desk and at a height where it is available for use. It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to make a novel construction of typewriter support and mount the same in a desk in such manner that the same may be projected forward and elevated through motor power and may also be lowered and withdrawn to inner housed position by the same power. A further object of the invention is to make an operating device of this character for the handling of the typewriter and supporting table on which it rests se1ni-automatic in its action; that is, while the initiation of the movement for the typewriter either from its housed inoperative to operative position, or from its elevated operative position to inoperative position is started by the manual throwing of a switch in an electric circuit, such circuit is broken and the typewriter and its supporting table stopped at the end of either direction of its movemen't when it reaches a preoetermined position, this breaking of the circuit and stopping of the movement occurring automatically.

An understanding of the present invention and the construction embodying the same by means of which these ends are attained, and a practical yet simple operative structure produced may be had from the following de scription taken. in conjunction witl the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a desk pedestal equipped with the invention showing the mechanism in. the position it occupies when the typewriter is not 'in use.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a detail of structure illustrating the con- No. 30,890. ReneWed Ju-ne 30, 1930.

nect-ionof the chain conveyor to the typewriter supporting structure. F 1g. 3 is a view similar to Fig. -1 but showing the supporting structure for the typewriter in its outer elevated operative position.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section and plan View through the desk pedestal, parts of the construction shown in plan being broken away and shown in section for betterdisclosure of the construction. v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section through the mechanism atone side and adjacent the front of the desk pedestal.

Fig 6 is a fragmentary enlarged perspect'ive view of the typewritersupporting table and the devices carrying the same, and

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic outlineof theelectric wiring system used with the mechanism.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The desk may be of any conventional construction, the pedestal being covered by the usual desk top 1 and each pedestal havinga bottom '2, back 3 and vertical spaced apart sides 4:, the front of the pedestal being open. Adjacent the front of said pedestal andon the inner side of each of the sides 4 thereof a vertical channel guide 5 is permanently secured which, at its lower end, may be equipped with a block 6 lying directly above the front portion of the bottom 2 of said pedestal, said blockextending into the channel between the flanges thereof. Adjacent theupper end of each channel guide but back thereof an idler sprocket'wheel 7 is mounted for rotation, directly below which is a second idler 8 interposed substantially midway between the bottom of the pedestal and said idler 7. Chaihs 9 .run around said idlers. 35 Back of the idlers 8 and substantially in the same horizontal plane are two sprocket wheels 10 around which said chains pass. The wheels 10 are fixed oneat each end of a shaft ll which extends horizontally across the pedestal and is rotatably mounted in suitable bracket supports 12 fixed at the inner sides of the sides at of the pedestal, as shown in Fig. l. A reversible electric motor 13 is rigidly secured to and extents forward -from the back 3 of the pedestal, its shatt being extended forward and equipped with a worm 14: which meshes with a suitable worm or tangent wheel 15 fixed on the shaft 11. Saic worm and tangent wheel are preferably housed within a housing 16. When the motor 13 is in operation it is evident that the endless sprocket chains 9 which pass around the sprocket wheels 7, 8 and 10 may be continuously driven and as the motor is a reversible motor he chains may be driven in either direction.

Normally located in a plane slightly below the lower run of the $1 rocket chains 9 is a supporting structure for a typewriter comprising a frame having spaced apart side bars 17 connected at their outer ends by a cr ss bar 18 and at a point intermediate their ends by a second cross bar 19, a table 20 being socured to the bars 17, 18 and 19 on which the typewriter, shown in dotted outline, may be placed. The bars 17 when within the desk extend a considerable distance back of the cross bar 19 and under the shaft 11. Alongside each side bar 17 a channel member 21 is located and permanently secured, the flanges of which extend outwardly from the webs which lie in contact with the adjacent side bars 17'.

A bracket 22 is attached to each of the side bars 17 and the channel bar 21 lying alongside thereof having a portion extending upwardly which carries a pin 23 permanently connected with one of the links of the adjacent sprocket chain 9. The brackets 22 are located a short distance back of the rear edge of the table 20.

Located at the inner side of each of the vertical channels 5 is a plate 24, substantially triangular in outline, carrying two spaced apart horizontally aligned rollers 25 which are received in the channels 21 previously described. Each plate is formed near its trout with an upwardly extending arm 26 which carries an upper roller 27 received in the adjacent channel guide 5, while a lower roller 27 in vertical alignment with the upper roller is carried by the plate at its lower corner and in the housed position of the mechanism the lower rollers 27 bear against the blocks 6. Each of the plates 24: at its front edge and below the table supporting, structure for the typewriter is formed with a forwardl extending arm 28 to which hinge members 29 are pivotally connected, the same in turn being attached to the rear side of a door 30 adapted to close the front of the pedestal and being normally yieldingly held in closed position by springs 31 associated with the hinge connections made by the parts 29 to the plate 24.

With this structure it is evident that with the motor running in one direction and with the typewriter and its support housed within the pedestal, said support is first moved outwardly on the rollers 25 or until the pins 23 pass around the sprocket wheels 8 after which it is elevated, the plates 24: guiding the same b reason of the rollers 27 located within the vertical guide channels 5, and when the upper rollers 27 reach the upper ends of the guide channels 5 the typewriter is located at an upper position and in front of the desk pedestal, as indicated in Fig. When the motor is stopped the construction remains in the position to which it has been moved by reason of the locking against return movement made by the worm and worm gear.

The operation of the moto' and its automatic stopping is controlled by means of electric agencies, diagram of which is shown in Fig. 7. In this diagram the conductors and are in circuit with a source of ilectric current such as an ordinary lighting circuit and they lead respectively to the field windings 3 1 and 36 of the motor 13. Although it is possible to use any type of reversible motor with this d vice the motor shown and described which is most desirable is 01 the series wound type and is reversed by reversing the flow of current through the commutator and brushes, thereby changing the polarity of the armature windings relative to the lield windings. in the diagram, re resents the commutator and 31 the brushes. A. double-pole double-throw switch is utilized in this circuit, the switch levers l6 and -il9 of which are electrically connected with the respective brushes 51 by the conductors 47 and 48. Circuit breakers 10 and 42 are interposed in the circuit tor the par pose of stopping the motor when the typewriter support in either its fully retracted position or fully elevated position. 'lhese circuit breakers are operated by the plungers -11 and ll-3 which are engagwl by the rail 17. The contact members 38 and 39 at 0; posite throws of the double-pole doublethrmv switch and engaged by opposite switch levers both electrically coi'mected with the field winding 36 ot the motor by the con ductor 37, the circuit breakers l and l2 be ing interposed in the circuit, one between each or" the switch contact menihcrs and. the field winding. The oppositely ari switch contacts no and 45 are both in electrical connection with the iicld windings El oi the motor, one directly through the conductor 82 and the other hrough the branch conductor n and the conductor 3" In the dwgrain the switch is shown open.

In operation, when the typewriter support is fully housed within the pedestal, as

shown in Fig. 1 and also diagram Fig. 7, the bar 17 engages the plunger ll and. opens the circuit breaker iUbut the circuit breaker is closedand upon closing the switch against the contact members 33 and 38' current flows through the ,motor, passing through the commutator in one direction and the motor rotates. in the direction to lllOVGiJllG) lowerruns of the chains 9 forward carrying the typewriter and its support forward until the connections at 22 and 28 pass around the sprockets 8, after which the typewriter and its support are elevated to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the bar 17 engages the plunger 43 of the circuit breaker a2 and breaks the circuit, stopping the motor. and owing to the worm and gear connection between the motor and the shaft 11 the shaft cannot rotate backward and the typewriter and its support are held in this elevated position supported by the chains. Inasmuch as the pins 23, which attach the chains to the typewriter support, will be directly against the upper sprockets 7' in this raised position a large amount of the weight is carried directly by the pins upon the sprockets and the chains relieved of a great deal of the strain.

At the first outward movement of writer support from its .fully retracted position, the forward rail 18 engages the door 30 above its pivot point and moves its upper end. outwardly and downwardly against the tension of the springs 31 to open the door and as the support continues its outward travel. the door is completely opened and disposed substantially horizontal and in almost wholly concealed position beneath the extended support. As the support together with the plates 26, upon which the door is mounted, move upwardly the door also is carried upwardly in this concealed position.

At the first outward movement of the support from its retracted position the plunger 41 of the circuit breaker 40 is released and the circuit is closed at this point, but as the circuit is broken at the double-pole double-throw switch, which is in its opposite position, no current can flow at this side of the switch. To accomplish the reverse operation of the the typety ewriter support and its associated mem bore the operator reverses the position of the switch levers which causes the current to flow through the circuit breaker40 now closed, and through the motor, passing through the commutator thereof in the opposite direction from that first described, causing the motor to ro-- tate in the reverse direction and the chains reverse their movement lowering the plates 26 and-carrying the support and door until the plates are stopped and rest upon the blocks 6; The support then moves inwardly with the channels-21 traversing the roller-s 25. As the front rail 18 of the support releases the door 30 it swings, by virtue'ot thesprings 31, back to its closed position and at the end of the movement of the support the bar 17 engages the plunger 41 and operates the circuit breaker iO'to break the circuit and stop the motor.

A conventional double-pole double-throw switch isindicated by the diagram but in actuality it is intended to use a switch of the toggle lever or push button type which is designed to accomplish the same result as the switch described, but which is never in open position and this switch is to be located upon the desk at some point where itmay be conveniently reached by the operator and is preferably concealed. It will be seen that it is only necessary for the operator to. either move the togglelever or push the button ofthe switch to accomplish the whole operation of opening the door andextending and elevating the typewriter and its support and stopping the same inthe proper position. Likewise to reverse these operations the operator only actuates the switch, whereupon all of the op erations of lowering and retracting the typewriter and its support, closing the door and stopping. the support within the pedestal are automatically accomplished. If the switch lever should be either intentionally or inadvertently actuated while the typewriter and its support are in mid-position the only efiect would be to reverse themotion of the motor and consequently the support and its ass0ciated' parts and return them to the extreme position where they would automatically stop.

The construction described is relatively simple, not costly to make and is particularly practical and efiectivein use and operation. The appended claims define the invention which is to be considered as comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination with a desk pedestaha typewriter support located within the pedestal, means for mounting said support for horizontal and vertical movements, means connected with said support to project said support first forwardly to the limit of its horizontal movement and afterward carry the same upwardly, said means being reversi ble in operation for returning the support first downwardly to the limit of its vertical movement and thence inwardly to original positionwithin the pedestal, substantially as described.

2. In combination with vertical guides located adjacent the front side of the pedestal, means adapted to traverse said guides, a typewriter support mounted for horizontal movement on said means and adapted to be moved horizontally in or out with respect to the pedestal and said means, and means connected to said typewriter support for moving the same first outwardly on saidmeans to the limit of its horizontal movement and afterward elevating a desk pedestal.

said support with said means whereby the typewriter is carried to an upper position outside of the pedestal.

In combination with a desk pedestal, a typewriter support located within the pedestal, means for mounting said support for movement in or out with respect to the pedestal, means for mounting said first means for vertical movement with respect to the pedestal, and means connected with the support whereby, when the support is located within the pedestal and said means operated, the support is first moved outwardly to the limit of its horizomal movement on said first means and said first means is afterward elevated, substantially as described.

a In combination with a desk pedestal, vertical guides located one on each side of the pedestal adjacent its front side, plates mounted one adjacent each guide and associated with each guide for vertical movements with respect to said guides, a typewriter support located between the plates, means for mounting said support on said plates, for horizontal movements inward or outward with respect to the pedestal, endless chains connected with said support, and means for driving said chains in either direction, whereby, when the support is within the pedestal, the same is first projected outwardly horizontally on said plates and said plates carrying the support therewith are afterward elevated vertically with respect to said guides, and on movementof the chains in the opposite direction said movements of the plates and typewriter support are reversed, substantially as described.

In combination, a desk pedestal having an open front side, two vertical channel guides located one on the inner side of each side of the pedestal adjacent said open front, two plates located one adjacent each guide, upper and lower rollers in vertical alignment extending from each plate into its associated guide. a typewriter supporting table located horizontally between the plates, means for mounting said table on said plates for horizontal movements, endless chains mounted one back of each guide, each in cluding a vertical run directly back of the guide, a lower horizontal run extending rear- .vardly, and an upper downwardly and rearwardly inclined run, sprocket wheels over which the chains pass, connections between the horizontal run of the chains when the typewriter support is within the pedestal and said support, a shaft on which the rearmost sprockets are mounted, and means for driving said shaft in either direction, substantiallv as described.

6. In combination, two vertical spaced apart channel guides having flanges extending inwardly, a plate located at the inner side of each guide, upper and lower rollers on each plate in vertical alignment located between the Ganges of its adjacent guide, two rollers in horizontal alignment mounted on each plate, a "frame having spaced apart side bars and a table between said bars located between the plates, a channel at the outer side of each side bar in which said horizontal rollers on the plates are received, whereby the table may be moved horizontally on said plates, and motor driven means connected with said side bars adapted to move said table from lower horizontal and rear position to an upper forward position or to return the same from said last mentioned position to said first position. substantially as described.

7. In combination with a desk pedestal, a typewriter supporting table housed within said pedestal, an electric motor, means for mounting said table for forward and up ward movements or vice versa, means connected to said table and driven by said motor for moving said table, electric circuits associated with said motor, a manually operable switch for closing the circuits and controlling the direction of movement of said motor, and additional. switches in said circuits adapted to be engaged and operated so as to stop the motor when said typewriter table has been moved to either lower horizontal position within the desk or upper projected position outside the desk, substantially as described.

8. In a desk pedestal, a typewriter support mounted for movements from a lower position Within the desk to an elevated projected position in front of the desk, motor driven means for moving said support from one position to the other or vice versa, two electric circuits associated with said motor, a manually operable switch for completing either circuit, and additional normally closed switches one in each circuit each respectively adapted to be engaged by said support upon movement thereof to its desired position in either direction to thereby break the active circuit and stop the operation of the motor.

9. In combination, a desk pedestal having an open front side, vertical guides located one at the inner side oi? each side oi the pedestal adjacent said open front, a plate mounted on each guide for vertical movements, a typewriter supporting table mounted on and between the plates for horizontal n'iovements, motor driven mean-s attached to said table for moving the same outwardly or inwardly and for moving the plates upwardly or down wardly, and a door pivotally mounted on said plates, the pivots for said door being located below said typewriter supporting table, substantially as described.

10. In combination with a desk pedestal having an open front, a carriage mounted in the pedestal for vertical movements, a typewriter support mounted on said carriage for horizontal movements, a door for the open frontof the pedestal hinged to said carriage below said typewriter support, means for moving the typewriter support outwardly and then moving said carriage upwardly or vice versa, whereby on outward movement of said typewriter support the door is en gaged above its pivot and is turned to and held in open position and is carried upwardly by said carriage, and means to return the door to closed position upon reverse movement of the typewriter support and carriage.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

BAYARD E. RICHARDSON. 

